annotated bibliography of new zealand research into family violence

Abstract: This is the second report on the new outcome-based monitoring and evaluationsystem used by the New Zealand Community Funding Agency. The monitoring andevaluation system has been created to increase the effectiveness of programmes funded by theagency. The report focuses largely on service provision, as an earlier report providedbackground on the clientele, the services and the outcomes of over 2,900 cases completed inthe latter part of 1995. The key findings were that of the 2,900 cases, there was a low rate ofwithdrawal (82% completing) and 60% of clients’ goals had been met, with 22% moreshowing progress towards their goal.Dixon, G. (1999). Narrative, journaling, therapy and abuse: Co-searching some women’s lives.Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13045.pubTopic Areas: Intimate partner abuse, Women, Gender, Prevention/intervention/treatment,Cultural practiceAbstract: This thesis argues that lives are storied through language and within relationships,and that women who have experienced abuse view themselves through an abuse dominatedlens which causes them to have very thin descriptions of self. These thin descriptions lead tolives which are existences rather than lives that are lived. Research was undertaken with 9women to explore how women who had experienced abuse could come together incommunity to co-author and co-construct the hitherto thin descriptions. This thesis suggeststhat women who have experienced abuse are multi-disadvantaged when it comes to stories ofself. Not only do they have to story their lives alongside disabling gender discourses, but theyalso have to grapple with internalised messages that speak to them of thin descriptions. Tointerrogate these ideas, a narrative, reflexive, feminist methodology was employed which hadat its heart the notion of decentred practice, a community of inquiry, and an ethic of care.From researching with two groups of women, the idea was supported that it takes multipleperspectives and multiple conversations in order to co-construct and co-author new richstories of identity. This thesis suggests that if these conversations take place in a communityof inquiry and care, then these stories can be retold and in each telling the women experiencealternative views of self and become encouraged to join with others to search out stories ofidentity that had hitherto been brushed over or disregarded by the abuse dominated lensthrough which they had viewed themselves. These tellings and retellings are likened todefinitional ceremony where women can speak and write themselves into being.Source: Author’s abstractDixon, G. (2000). Cracks in the foundation: A critical analysis of judicial reasoning and thediscoverability rule in sexual abuse cases. Unpublished master’s thesis, Victoria Universityof Wellington, New Zealand.See: www.nzfvc.org.nz/13222.pubTopic Areas: Sexual abuse, Sexual assault/rape, Victims/survivors, Justice, Legislation,Cultural factors, GenderAbstract: This paper discusses legal theory in relation to judicial decision making andcompares formalism and substantialism in the context of the development of civil law inrelation to historical sexual abuse claims. The paper explores judicial attitudes towardswomen, from a feminist perspective, and discusses how the law could be developed tofacilitate greater utility and equality for women. The paper promotes a more principledapproach to judicial reasoning to facilitate legal development that supports and enhancesjudicial autonomy and accountability. Adopting a principle-oriented approach means a greater47